LAPD Launches New Program Against Racial Profiling. Other Cities Should Take Notes

The LAPD is taking a small step towards addressing the long-running issue of racial profiling in the L.A. area with a new voluntary program that will allow those who feel they were racially profiled the chance to speak with the officer in question face-to-face in the presence of a moderator.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is launching a program that would bring officers face to face with civilians who have accused them of racial profiling, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The program called “Community-Employee Mediation Pilot Program” will run about three years and would allow the officer accused of racial profiling and the racially profiled victim the opportunity to discuss the encounter where the alleged incident occurred.

Those who are interested in the meetings would attend only on a voluntary basis. The parties involved will have an impartial and trained mediator, a volunteer that would be provided by the City Attorney’s office

The current program’s mediation sessions will take place in cases that do not involve allegations of physical assault, racially bias, verbal insults, or more serious charges.

If an LAPD officer agrees to participate in the program in good faith, then the department’s investigation in to the accusations against them will be closed.

Officers with two prior complaints in the previous year are ineligible.
According to the L.A. Times, a director from the police officer’s union reportedly told the police commission Tuesday that the union supported the mediation plan and has urged officers to take part in the program.

This program sounds great. Hopefully other cities can follow suit with implementing similar programs to help address the issues behind racial profiling among police officers.